Venetian blind



Nov. i

.25, 1930. c. BAUER 1,782,954

VENETIAN BLIND n Filed oct. 2l, 1927 Patented Nov. 25 1930 coNnAn BAUER, or' MOUNT oLIvEn, PENNSYLVANIA VENETLAN BLIND Application mea october '21, 1927'. serial 110-227,746.

One feature of m invention is a new and im roved slatted blind structure.

other feature is the provision of improved means for guiding the blind in its lowering and raising movements and for the dis osal of theblind in either avertical or inc ined position.

I preferably associate the. iexible blind with a screen, mounting the two elements on 10 parallel rollers, and I provide new. and im- 1 proved means for locking one of the elementsagainst movement while the other is being raised or lowered.

Other novel features of construction, and also of arrangement of parts will appear from the following description. In the accom anying drawings, wherein I have illustrated) the best embodiment of the princi les of my invention now known to me, Fig. 1 1s a broken vertical section of a window 'frame to which my invention is ap lied, the side of the frame being partially bro en away to show the gear mechanism and shiftinglever; Fig. 2 is a broken inside elevation ofthe blind proper showing the `slats and their means of connection; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is adetail showing the means for locking the gear shift A lever against accidental movement; Fig. 5 is a detail showing theswivel block and the lifting rod for raislng the blind into and support ing it in an inclined position; Fig. 6A is a broken inside elevation showing the lower end of the guide frame land means for loclring'it,l

y in its vert-ical position; Fig. 7 is a sectional vview taken along theline 7-7 in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a modified form of locking means; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 8,-and Fig. 10 is an enlarged section along line 10-10 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the sideofa window frame and2 a boxing extendingV transverselyabove the window opening.

In the boxing 2 are mounted the transversely disposed and parallel rollers 3. and 4,

- the former'being positioned below the latter.

The ends of the rollers are journaled in stand- 50 ard plates such as lshown at 5 in Fig. 1. At

. raise the screen.

one end the rollers have xedly mounted thereon the pinions 6 and 7, res tively.

The lower roller 3 has woun thereon the length of screen 8 which is preferablyof wire mesh provided with a cross bar 9 at its lower end. The vertical edgesof the screen and the ends of the bar slide in the vertical guides 10I which are channel members attached to the sides 1 of the window frame. i It is evident that by rotating the roller in B( the one direction the screen 8 may belowered anda reverse rotation of the roller will The upper roller 4 has wound thereon the upper portion of the iiexible blind comprislng the slats l1 and the connector members 12. It is evident that a rotation of the roller 4 in the one direction will lower the blind while a reverse rotation of said roller will raise the blind.

I provide a selective gear mechanism for raising or lowering either the blind or the screen at will', and also for locking the one stationary while the otherpis being raised or lowered. Thus 13 'lidia horizontal shaft in the boxing 2 and upon the same is mounted the rocking bar 14 which carries at one side of its axis of motion a pinion 15 which when the bar is moved in one direction, counterclockwise in Fig. 1, comes into mesh with the pinion 7 of the roller 4 and when the bar is moved in the opposite direction comes intomesh with the pinion 6 of the roller 3. 16 is a second pinion continuously in mesh with the pinion 15 and rotatable upon the shaft 13 as an axis. 17 is a sprocket mountted coaxially with the pinion 16 and movin therewith, and 18 is an endless chain whic runs over the sprocket 17 and depends behind the side 1 of the window frame, one 90 strand extending through an aperture in the inside facing 19 of the window frame and over a pulley 20 and bein exposed within the room so as to be seized y the hand.

The rocking bar 14 is shiftable, so as vto 05 bring the pinion 15 into mesh either with the pinion 6 or 7 b means of a shift rod 21 ivotally connecte lto the inner end of the ar 14 and depending down within the side 1 and facing 19 of the window frame. It 1:3

- ing is evident that when the rod 21 is pushed upwardly the pinion 15 will be caused to mesh with the pinion 7 so that by pulling the chain 18 in the proper direction the blind may be raised or lowered, and on the other hand by pulling downwardly on the rod the inion 15 will be caused to mesh with pimon 6 so that by pulling the chain 18 in the proper direction the screen 8 may be` either raised or lowered. l

The lower end of the bar 21 is bent rearwardly so as to protrude through a slot 22 in the facing 19. 23 represents projections at either side of the slot 22 and intermediate of its vertical length, and the protrudend of the bar 21 is provided with a handle 24 of too great width to pass between such projections. Thus by pulling the end I' of the rod outwardly so that thehandle will clear the projections, the rod may be moved up or down to shift the gear 15. Means, such as the leaf spring 25 are provided to throw the rod inwardly when released so that the handle 24 will move into position either above the projections 23, as shown in Fig. 1, or below the latter, as the case may be, thus locking the rod and the rocking bar against accidental movement.

On the opposite side of its axis of move- .ment from the pinion 15 the end of the bar 14 is provided with a sector-shaped locking finger 26 whose ends are tooth-shaped and so disposed that when the pinion 15 is in mesh with one of the pinions 6 or 7, the locking finger is in engagement with the other of said `two pinions, thus locking one roller stationwhile the other roller may be rotated.

l'`he inner strand of the chain 18 also passes over a-roller 27, and the rollers 20 and'27 are mounted on a horizontal bracket 28 which is provided with an upwardly extendingarm 29 which is clamped to the stand 5 by a bolt 30 which passes through a horizontal slot 31 in the stand. thus enabling the bracket 28 to be adjusted to suit different de ths of window frames.

e connector plates 12 `which attach the blind slats 11 togethenmay be stamped out of fiat metal andare riveted or otherwise secured to the backs of the slats 11, two or more vertical, rows of lates being employed. The rear surfaces o the slats 11 are provided with recesses 32 open at the bottom and the plates 12 are provided with a pair of depending spaced apart tongues 33 which are bent up to close the bottom of the recess except for a restricted opening at its center. 34 represents a restricted neck which extends upwardly from each plate above the slat and is provided at its upper end with lateral extensions which form trunnions 35. ihen the slats are-assembled to form the blind, the

' necks of the plates 12 of one slat 11 extend upwardly through the opening in the bottom of the recess 32 of the slat next above and between the tongues 33 of the plate next above, the trunnions 35 occupying said recess and when the slats hang by their weight said trunnions are journaled within the bent up tongues 33.

It is thus seen that the slats are pivotally connected together and when hanging by their weight are spaced apart for the admis'- sion of light and air. However when crowded together, the slats interfit so as to provide a tight closure.

The ends of the slats 11 slidably engage channel guides at either side of the window frame. Thus the upper and arcuate guides 36 are ixed in place and extend forwardly and downwardly from the' roller 4 within the boxing 2 and the lower guides formed by the telescoping members 37 and 37 b have their up er ends pivotally attached to the lower end) of the upper guides 36. The lower guide members 37b are connected together at their lower ends by the cross bar 38, thus forming a lower guide frame which may be vertically positioned within the window lopening as shown in Fig. 1, or which may be swung outwardly at the bottom to position the blind in an inclined position.

39 `represents a rod pivotally attached at one end to the guide member 3'?"iL intermediate of the ends of the latter, said rod being slidable within a block 40 which is swivelmounted on the side 1 of the window frame. A set screw 41 is provided to fix the rod relative to the block. One of said rods is provided at each side of the window frame and are employed to extend the swingable guide frame into an inclined position. The inclination of the frame may be adjusted to the desired angle. By tightening the set screws the blind is maintained in its vertical or inclined position.

The upper guide members 37 telescope within the lower guide members 37b as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the side flanges of the lower members 37b being provided'with lips 37'c which hold the guide members against lat- 'eral displacement but permit a longitudinal sliding movement between the members. Thus the swinging frame may be lengthened or shortened. It is frequently desirable to shorten the frame when it is swung outwardly into an inclined position.

One of the members, such as 37", may be provided with shallow sockets 37d' and the other member with corresponding projections 37 so as to hold the frame in its extended or shortened condition against accidental ,movement I provide means for locking the blind in its vertical position.

Thus in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, 42 represents a bar pivotally mounted on the inner face of the cross bar 38 and having its end bent inwardly and notched to form the hook 43 which engages down over the head screw 44 rocking member;

extending from the member of the window frame. The hook is provided with a lateral extension 46 forming a linger hold.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show a locking member 47 having a handle at one end and a hook on the otherv end and pivotally mounted at its center to the cross lbar 38. The hook end of the locking member engages a stud 48 on the window frame. g

From the foregoing it is obvious vthat my invention marks a decided advance in flexible blind construction and also in combined blind and screen construction.

The structure of the slatted blind is strong and durable. The use of ta es is avoided by the substitution therefor o simple and in-l expensive yet strong and durable metal elements. The connection between the slats is such that they may be caused to intert and thus form a tight closure impervious to the sunlight and rain or they maIy separate and thus admit light and air free y.

My mechanism for operating the rollersv upon which the blind and screen are wound provides improved means for locking the rollers stationary and preventing one roller from moving While the other is being rotated.

What I desire to claim is 1. For use in connection with a window frame provided with a flexible blind, a ilexible screen, means for rollinvr up and unrollinor the blind, means for rolling up and `unrolling the screen, and selective means comprising a rocking member for bringing either of said rolling up and unrolling means into operative relation; means for locking said .rocking member against accidental movement.

2. For use in connection with a window frame providedwith a lexi'ble blind, a ilexible screen, meansfor rolling up and unrollthe blind, means for rollingup'and un- 1n 'roIling the screen, selective means compris ing a rocking member ',for bringing either of said rolling up and unrolling means into operative relation, and a rod for vshifting said spring means -for locking said rod against accidental movement.`

3. For use in frame ible screen, means for rollin up and unrolling the blind, means vfor ro ing up and unrolling the screen, selective means comprising a rocking member for bringing either of said rollin up and unrolling erative re ation, and ,a ro pivotally con- I -nected to the rocking member whereby by raising or lowerin the rod the rocking mem- Vrolling means .or the screen ro in its raised and lowered ber may be shifte .to bring into its operative relation either the blind rollin up and unling up and means; means forlocking said rod positions.

4. For use lin connectionl with a window frame provided with a flexible blind, a. ilexunrollin connection with a window provided with a flexible blind, a flex-- means 'into op-4 y provided with a rolling the screen, selective meansl comprisoperative relation, and pivotally connected to the rockin *member whereby by raising and lowering t e rod the rocking member may be shifted to bring into its operative relation either the blind rolling up an d'vunrolling means or the screen rolling up and unrolling meansLthe window frame being provided with posed slotted opening and the end of the rod being bent horizontally to forma handle which protrudes through the slot whereby by raising and lowerinr the handle the depending rod may be shi ted; means for locking said handle at either end of said slotted opening. y y

5. For use in connection with a window frame ible screen, means for rolli in the blind', means for riiing up and unro ling the screen, selective means comprising a rocking member for bringing either of said rolling up and unrolling means into operative relation, and ade ending rod pivotally connected to the roel? whereb by raising and lowering the rod the roc 'ng member ma be shifted to bring into its operative relation either the blind l rolling up and unrolling means or the screen means, the window y 100 having an internievible scream-means for rolling up and unroll- `ing `the blind, means for rolling up and unay .depending rod a vertically disprovided with a flexible blind, a flexing member bent horizontally to form a handle whici l protrudes through theV opening, whereby by raising or lowering the handle in the slotted opening the rocking member may be shifted;

an enlarged extremity on said handle 'whereby by pulling the handle outwardly relative to the opening the handle is free for, vertical movement but when the handle is retracted relative to the opening the struction locks the handle against movement along. the opening. i' 1 ,6. For use iny connection with a vwindow frame provided with a flexible blind, a Hexible screen, means for rollin up and unrolling the blind, means for ro ling up and unrolling the screen, selective means comprising a rocking member for bringing either of said rolling up and unrolling means into operative relation, and a de ending rod pivotally connected to the roc ing membeL-whereb intermediate ob` :iiember'may be shifted to bring into its operative relation either the blind rolling up and unrolling means or the screen rolling up and unrolling means,

vertically disposed slotte -openinghavin an intermediate obstruction and the end o? the rod being bent horizonthe window frame being "lac tally to form a handle which protrudes through the opening whereby by raising ory lowering the handle 1n the slotted opening the rocking member may be shifted; an enlarged extremity 0n said handle whereby by pulling' the handle outwardly relative to the opening the handle is free for vertical movement but when the handle is retracted relative to the opening the y intermediate obstruction locks the handle against movement along the opening, and spring-means arranged to hold said handle in its retracted position.

Si ned at Mt. Oliver, Pa., this 17th day of Octo r, 1927.

CONRAD BAUER. 

